The overnight batting pair of the vice-captain Tahlia McGrath (9* off 21 balls) and wicket-keeper batter Beth Mooney (98* off 149 balls) resumed the 3rd day’s play at 422/5 in 120 overs, with an enormous lead of 252. Mooney finally completed her maiden century in her Test career off just 155 balls, towards the end of a nervy first over of the day’s play bowled by Sophie Ecclestone.
She became the first Australian and the 4th overall alongside the English duo of skipper Heather Knight and Tammy Beaumont, followed by the South African skipper Laura Wolvaardt to score a century in all three formats in the women’s game.
A spirited fightback from the English bowlers followed as they wrapped up the Australian lower order inside the first 11 overs of the penultimate day’s play. The home side mustered 18 runs for the loss of their last five wickets as they folded their innings for 440 in 130.3 overs, with a hefty lead of 270. Wicket-keeper batter Beth Mooney (106 off 173 balls), and Annabel Sutherland (163 off 258 balls) were the twin centurions of the Australian innings propelling them to a massive total on the board. The pair contributed a significant chunk (61%) of their total.
Sophie Ecclestone (44.3-8-143-5) was yet again the stand-out performer with the ball for England. Lauren Filer accounted for the big wicket of the wicket-keeper batter Beth Mooney (26-3-86-2), and Lauren Bell (25-3-94-2) picked up a couple of wickets each and Ryana MacDonald-Gay (19-3-69-1) was also impressive with the ball. The visitors lost the wicket of their opening batter Maia Bouchier in the 4th over of their 2nd batting stint with Darcie Brown providing the first breakthrough for the home side.
Skipper Heather Knight joined Tammy Beaumont at the crease and the duo were brilliantly surviving the testing phase in their bid to lead the recovery for the visitors as they headed into the Tea break at 30/1 in 14 overs and an unbeaten 24-run partnership for the 2nd wicket.
The pair resumed with a more inspired approach, keeping the Australian bowlers at bay. Ashleigh Gardner broke the crucial 73-run partnership for the 2nd wicket by removing the opposition skipper Heather Knight (32 off 75 balls) in the 30th over of the innings. Nat Sciver-Brunt joined opening batter Tammy Beaumont at the crease and the duo continued the resilient display taking their side to the 100-run mark with a 21-run partnership for the 3rd wicket.
Alana King picked up the big scalp of the English vice-captain Nat Sciver-Brunt to provide the decisive breakthrough for Australia. After her departure, the Australian spin duo of Alana King and Ashleigh Gardner pounced on visitors and wrapped their innings for 148 in 68.4 overs. However, it wasn’t as easy as they would have liked as the 10th wicket pair of Lauren Bell and Lauren Filer showed remarkable resilience as they survived for more than 11 overs, 68 balls to be precise.
However, Alana King ended the defiant stay at the crease to deliver a historic and memorable Women’s Ashes whitewash (16-0), by an innings and 122 runs in the pink ball Test at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Opening batter Tammy Beaumont (47 off 124 balls) top scored with the bat for England, while skipper Heather Knight (32 off 75 balls), Nat Sciver-Brunt (18 off 17 balls), Sophie Ecclestone (18 off 50 balls), and Lauren Filer (14 off 45 balls) were the batters who managed to enter the double digits with the bat for England.
Alana King (23.4-9-53-5) picked up her maiden five-wicket haul in the format. Ashleigh Gardner (25-11-39-4), Darcie Brown (6-0-14-1), and Kim Garth (7-1-15-0) were impressive with the ball for Australia.
Annabel Sutherland was awarded the Player of the Match for her sensational innings of 163 off 258 balls with the bat and Alana King was awarded the Player of the multi-format Women’s Ashes Series as she picked up 23 wickets for Australia in the series.
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